The present invention generally relates to a washer for industrial parts and, more particularly, to a washer which eliminates the need for a large enclosure.
Manufactured industrial parts, such as machined metallic components, become coated with cutting fluids, lubricating oils, machine coolants, metal fragments and other contaminants during the manufacturing process. For example, metal cutting operations often include the steps of applying a lubricant to the cutting tool and part being machined. Lubricant residue and metal chips often adhere to the surface of the part. Industrial parts washers are used to remove undesired contaminants and clean the part prior to use.
Industrial parts washers typically include one or more processing zones for washing, rinsing, drying and other steps for cleaning the parts. A conveyor typically transports the parts through the processing zones from one end of the washer to the other. Because industrial parts washers typically spray the parts with heated liquid cleaners, most washers include an enclosure to capture the spray and contaminants being washed.
The enclosure of a typical industrial parts washer ordinarily incorporates a large metal housing which extends along nearly the entire length of the machine. Although such enclosures have proven to be quite durable and relatively easy to fabricate, they are large, unwieldy and relatively costly. Access to the machines within the enclosure is oftentimes limited thereby making maintenance and retooling of the machines difficult. Furthermore, because the majority of the machines used to wash, rinse and dry the part are located within the enclosure, the machines are detrimentally exposed to the harsh solvent spray throughout their life.
Several manufacturers of industrial parts washers have attempted to address the problem of access by adding doors or removable side panels to the side of the enclosure. However, the restricted openings hinder access to the interior volume of the enclosure. Other manufacturers have attempted to provide an enclosure which is removable in its entirety. However, due to the size and weight of the requisite enclosure, mechanical lifts or cranes are usually needed to raise the enclosure. Accordingly, there is a need for a housingless industrial parts washer having reduced size and complexity.
The industrial parts washer of the present invention includes a stand adapted to support the part to be washed and a moveable chamber. The chamber is moveable from a returned position clear of the part to an advanced position engaging the stand where the chamber and the stand form a sealed unit encapsulating the part. A nozzle assembly is coupled to a pressurized fluid supply and positioned within the chamber.
In one embodiment, a moveable wash ring having a plurality of manifold mounted nozzles mounted thereto is advanced across the part during the washing cycle. The nozzles are positioned substantially about the periphery of the part to provide a plurality of fluid paths for washing strategic areas of the part.
In another embodiment, the industrial parts washer of the present invention includes a washing station and a drying station. The drying station is positioned downstream of the washing station and includes a separate moveable chamber and part support stand. The drying station includes a plurality of nozzles plumbed to spray dry air on the part after it has been enclosed within the moveable chamber.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring to
Parts washer 20 includes a washing station 24 and a drying station 26 positioned adjacent to one another. A conveyor 28 transports part 22 from a machining center (not shown) to a transfer system 29. Transfer system 29 includes a turntable 30 where part 22 is rotated into proper alignment for loading into washing station 24. Transfer system 29 also includes a lift 32 which is operable to transport a recently machined part from turntable 30 to washing station 24 and simultaneously transfer a washed part from washing station 24 to drying station 26. To accomplish this task, a driver 31 is operable to vertically move and horizontally translate lift 32 to properly position the parts 22.
As best shown in
Based on this mounting arrangement, chamber 36 may be selectively positioned in an open position shown in
As best shown in
Wash ring 71 also includes a guide bracket 84 and a hanger 86. Hanger 86 is free to slide axially relative to guide bracket 84 thereby translating halo 72 and nozzles 82 within chamber 36. An actuator 88 drivingly interconnects slide 38 and halo 72 to allow wash ring 71 to be translated back and forth across part 22 during the washing process.
Halo 72 and nozzles 82 may be driven back and forth a predetermined number of times or may be controlled to continue to wash part 22 until a predetermined parameter is met indicating that the part is clean. The predetermined parameter could be an indication by a visual inspection, a measurement of particulate count in the cleaning fluid or any other number of indicia. Once the washing cycle has been determined to be completed, chamber 36 is moved from a closed position to the open position by causing slide 38 to translate relative to table 40. At this time, part 22 may be transferred to drying station 26, if present.
Drying station 26 is constructed substantially similarly to washing station 24. Accordingly, similar components will be identified with like reference numerals including a “prime” designation. Preferably, operation of drying station 26 is coordinated with operation of washing station 24 such that chamber 36 and chamber 36′ are substantially simultaneously located in their open and closed positions. When both chambers are in the open position, a part 22 is transferred from turntable 30 to part support structure 62 of washing station 24 while a recently washed part is transferred from part support structure 62 to part support structure 62′ of drying station 26. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the adjacent positioning of washing station 24 and drying station 26 is merely exemplary and that washing station 24 may be utilized in the absence of a companion drying station 26 without departing from the scope of the present invention.
During operation of drying station 26, chamber 36′ is moved from the open to the closed position such that seal 56′ engages mounting plate 58′ of stand 34′. Compressed air or another drying agent is presented within enclosed volume 60′ via nozzles 82′. Nozzles 82′ may also be defined as air knives. Part support structure 62′ is mounted to spindle 70′ which is rotatably coupled to stand 34′ by an end cap and bearing assembly 89. As shown in
In operation, halo 72′ and air knives 82′ are axially translated across part 22 while the part is located in a first orientation as shown in the Figures. Subsequently, actuator mechanism 90 causes part 22 to rotate 90 degrees to allow trapped debris and cleaning fluid to escape from internal passages of part 22. Pressurized air or dry air is again supplied to air knives 82′ while actuator 88′ translates halo 72′ over the part.
Returning to
Furthermore, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, the washing and drying stations of the present invention may be separated and used independently from one another. Additionally, any number of spray head configurations may be used in conjunction with a moveable housing without departing form the scope of the present invention. Additionally, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations may be made therein without department from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.